What California Domestic Water Company does

California Domestic Water Company is a not-for-profit mutual water company incorporated in 1902 (with predecessor origins dating to 1889), headquartered in Whittier, California. The company operates as a wholesale water provider, extracting and treating groundwater from the Main San Gabriel Basin through seven active wells and a 30-mile transmission pipeline that crosses Los Angeles and Orange Counties, ultimately delivering 20,000-25,000 acre-feet of potable water annually to three primary shareholders: City of La Habra, City of Brea, and Suburban Water Systems, collectively serving approximately 222,000 people in Whittier, La Mirada, La Habra, and Brea.

The company's core technology is its groundwater extraction, treatment, and transmission system. Water is processed through three primary treatment facilities — an air stripper (constructed 1986) for removal of industrial solvents and VOCs, an ion exchange facility (constructed 2000-2002 and expanded 2018-2023) for PFAS, perchlorate, and NDMA, and a UV light facility (2000-2002) — alongside high-efficiency pumping plants and a 5-million-gallon storage reservoir (Bassett, 1999). The company conducts over 2,000 water quality samples annually to ensure compliance with federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards. The capital-intensive infrastructure includes approximately 30 miles of transmission pipeline, with a near-term $12 million priority replacement of the 48-inch M-Line funded through shareholder capital.

Cal Domestic generates revenue primarily through wholesale water sales to its three primary shareholders, with rates established annually by the Board of Directors. Water deliveries are governed by stock entitlements allocated under the 1973 Main San Gabriel Basin adjudication overseen by the Watermaster Board. A retail service segment serving approximately 160 remaining residential shareholders is being actively transitioned to municipal providers. Capital is raised through common stock issuances to shareholders — most recently a 2022-2023 issuance generating $5,718,750 — supplemented by federal grants (e.g., $2.6M from the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority for PFAS treatment). The company also benefits from the Baldwin Park Operable Unit Superfund settlement, which reimburses 100% of treatment O&M costs from 2001-2027. Ownership is mutual, with the three primary shareholders holding the majority of common stock; the wholly-owned subsidiary Cadway, Inc. manages related real estate.

Name

California Domestic Water Company

Legal name

California Domestic Water Company

Website

https://caldomestic.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1902

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

California Domestic Water Company is a not-for-profit mutual water utility that produces and delivers 20,000-25,000 acre-feet of treated groundwater annually from the Main San Gabriel Basin to three wholesale shareholders — City of La Habra, City of Brea, and Suburban Water Systems — serving approximately 222,000 people across Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Utility Services

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213)

SIC

Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Disinfection & Oxidation (Chlorine/Chloramine, UV, Ozone, AOP) (EUANABAD)

Keywords

• Wholesale water supply
• Water treatment services
• Groundwater extraction
• Mutual water company
• Potable water services

Headquarters

HQ city

Whittier

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Water Sales - Wholesale: As a not-for-profit mutual water company, Cal Domestic produces and sells 20,000-25,000 acre-feet of water annually to its three primary shareholders. Revenue is generated through water rates established by the Board of Directors, with costs allocated through water rates and stock entitlements.
2. Water Sales - Retail: Approximately 160 retail shareholders receive water service through City of La Habra and Suburban Water Systems, with the company billing at established rates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

California Domestic Water Company is a not-for-profit mutual water company that operates seven active groundwater wells in the Main San Gabriel Basin, treating and delivering approximately 20,000-25,000 acre-feet of water annually to its three primary wholesale shareholders (City of La Habra, City of Brea, and Suburban Water Systems) through approximately 30 miles of transmission pipeline. The company provides advanced water treatment through air stripper, ion exchange, and UV light facilities to remove VOCs, PFAS, perchlorate, and NDMA, serving roughly 222,000 end users.

Product overview

California Domestic Water Company is a not-for-profit mutual water company that operates as a wholesale water provider, offering a unified portfolio of water supply and delivery services. The company operates seven active groundwater wells drawing from the Main San Gabriel Basin, with water treated through three primary treatment facilities (Air Stripper, UV Light, and Ion Exchange) and delivered through approximately 30 miles of pipeline. The company produces and sells 20,000-25,000 acre-feet of water annually, serving three primary shareholders (City of La Habra, City of Brea, and Suburban Water Systems) who distribute water to approximately 222,000 people in portions of Whittier, La Mirada, La Habra, and Brea.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wholesale Water Supply and Delivery

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,000-25,000 acre-feet of water produced and sold annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority (WQA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 February 2023WQA distributed Federal Funding Program Administration funds authorized by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to Cal Domestic. The company received $2.3 million initial grant plus $300,000 additional grant ($2.6 million total) for PFAS ion exchange treatment facility at Well 8.
• Main San Gabriel Basin WatermastercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCal Domestic's President serves as Chair of the Main San Gabriel Basin Watermaster Board of Directors. Water producers in the Main San Gabriel Basin agreed to adjudication of pumping rights in 1973, overseen by nine-member Watermaster Board under California Superior Court.
• Puente Basin Water AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint Powers Authority between Rowland Water District and Walnut Valley Water District. Cal Domestic collaborates with Puente Basin Water Agency as part of regional water district tour for state legislators highlighting water facilities and supply issues.
• WAMANCO (Water Management Company)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWAMANCO manages water rights owned by the Co-Tenancy with managing members including three Pellissier family members, one Cal Domestic representative, and one Covina Irrigating Company representative. Cal Domestic provides administrative support for $5,400 annually.
• Cadway, Inc.coreOthersWholly owned subsidiary formed in 1964 to manage housing and properties owned by Cal Domestic. Both companies share same employees and Board of Directors. Cal Domestic holds 11.62798% interest and Cadway holds 13.11509% interest in Pellissier Co-Tenancy totaling 24.74307%.
• Baldwin Park Operable Unit Project (Superfund)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandmark settlement with parties responsible for water contamination in Main San Gabriel Basin as part of nation's largest Superfund clean-up site. Cal Domestic received reimbursement for treatment technology capital investments and 100% of O&M expenses from 2001-2027.
• Three Valley Municipal Water DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on legislative tour highlighting water facilities and supply systems in San Gabriel River Watershed.
• San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on legislative tour highlighting water facilities and supply systems.
• Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on legislative tour highlighting water facilities and supply systems.
• Various Water Utilities (Superfund Settlement)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with other water utilities in reaching pivotal settlement with parties responsible for water contamination in the Main San Gabriel Basin, sharing treatment costs and reimbursement benefits.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District: Wholesale municipal water district serving the upper San Gabriel Valley watershed. Comparable wholesale water provider with overlapping basin coordination and similar retail-agency customer base.
• Walnut Valley Water District: Retail water district that partners with Rowland Water District in the Puente Basin Water Agency. Comparable regional retail water utility serving adjacent San Gabriel Valley communities with similar groundwater and imported water supply mix.
• Suburban Water Systems: Cal Domestic's largest wholesale shareholder and a regulated water utility serving portions of Whittier and La Mirada. Directly comparable as a regional retail water utility purchasing wholesale supply from Cal Domestic, and one of the three counterparties in the M-Line stock issuance.
• Valley County Water District: Retail water district in the San Gabriel Valley where Cal Domestic's current President Lynda Noriega previously served as General Manager. Directly comparable small retail water utility with overlapping service geography and groundwater supply profile in the same basin.
• San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District: Wholesale municipal water district in the San Gabriel Valley with overlapping service geography and basin coordination. Directly comparable wholesale-tier water provider with similar groundwater and imported water supply dynamics.
• La Habra Heights Municipal Water Company: Small mutual water company operating in La Habra Heights along Cal Domestic's pipeline corridor. Comparable as a small not-for-profit mutual water company sharing service territory and supply considerations.
• Rowland Water District: Retail water district in the San Gabriel Valley and joint partner with Walnut Valley Water District in the Puente Basin Water Agency. Comparable in size and function to a retail water utility operating in the same regional water ecosystem.
• Three Valleys Municipal Water District: Wholesale water district in the eastern San Gabriel Valley that Cal Domestic has partnered with on legislative tours. Comparable as a wholesale water provider delivering supply to retail agencies in the same broader watershed.

Broad incumbents

• Golden State Water Company: Investor-owned water utility subsidiary of American States Water Company serving more than 1 million people in California. Comparable regulated water utility with overlapping statewide service and similar groundwater treatment requirements.
• California Water Service (Cal Water): Largest investor-owned water utility in California, serving more than 2 million people across the state. Comparable wholesale/retail water utility model with regulated rates, advanced treatment, and significant infrastructure, though at much larger scale and as an investor-owned rather than mutual entity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about California Domestic Water Company